Wondering why the Leviathan across the river would not cut off (not simply “suspend”) military aid to Egypt? Well, who do you think profits from all of weapons sales? The big defense contractors do not want to see billions of dollars in fat defense contracts go down the drain. Therefore many gov’t figures (from the President on down) are/were doing verbal gymnastics in order to avoid the word “coup”, because it automatically meant cash out of the window for the DEFENSE CONTRACTORS:

Yes, they “suspended” the aid (though it is still in the pipeline) but the point here is big business LOVES big government because they have the resources (that small businesses do not have) to hire lobbyists and other corporate shills to make sure the gravy train keeps running. They have the resources (that small businesses to do not) to hire a team of lawyers and an army of accountants to fight through the regulations and roadblocks. What am I talking about? The lobbyists they hire actually write legislation at times! Better believe that the lobbyists are working overtime to make sure that Egyptian spicket is turned back on soon.

Truth is that young men like the ones in the previous post are a drop in the bucket compared to the advantages that these defense contractors and other large contractors receive. Be sure to visit Muckety and take a look at theinteractive map that details that collusion of the defense contractors.

Comments

While all of that may be true, we should also objectively examine whether we should continue to aid the Egyptian military.

At present, it seems as though the Egyptian military is the largest group in that country that remotely sides with the United States. The military does not want a war with Israel, and the Muslim Brotherhood does.

Unfortunately, democracy in Muslim countries does not have a good track record for promoting peace and stability. From the standpoint of peace and stability, and of religious tolerance, a military dictatorship may be the least bad option.

That is true, but at this point I don’t think it is any of our business. Our best option is probably to let the various factions in the entire region fight it out amongst themselves (it is THEIR fight, not ours and besides, if they are fighting each other, they are not fighting us). Until they want peace and stability for themselves, it is certainly not our place to enforce it. I think that Obama may have stumbled into this “do nothing” policy.

As I have stated before, “democracy” is not the simple act of voting, but an entire culture of self governance that is just not present in certain areas of the planet. That is what Bush got absolutely wrong in his doctrine of “spreading democracy” and now it’s time to mind our own business and focus on home.

Trying to “spread democracy” sure hasn’t done much to secure our interests so far and has cost us dearly in blood and dollars – much of which went toward buying off tribal leaders, warlords and corrupt leaders (like Hamid Karzai). If they are fighting each other then they have no time to fight us. Plus we can do more by securing the homeland (starting with halting the quasi-open borders policy in place) and continuing to pursue energy independence.

While “energy independence” seems like a good goal, I favor using all their oil first, THEN using ours!

If we use up all their oil, they won’t be a problem.

But the Egyptian military has strong ties to the U.S. military. Their officers come here often for training and conferences, and generally have good personal relationships with the officers in our military. This is not the case of a military that wanted to take over, but of a military that saw no other option.

Hopefully by the time we get to such a point (possibly decades from now) the technology will have reached a point to where the much talked about alternative energy sources will have been exploited and are more viable. That in mind, I would prefer to use OUR now (and wound the oil cartels) and cripple them when alternative energies are more common and viable.

Written by Ed Myers about 3 years ago.

I prefer letting China use the mideast oil to make stuff. We can use our natural gas to power our economy and save the money it would cost to defend China’s mideast oil interest.

Then during the next mideast crises it will be China’s problem and not ours.

We still use Mideast oil when we buy from China, but we don’t become dependent on it since we can switch our manufacturing back to the US if the price of oil skyrockets.

The transition of European countries from serfdom to Monarchies to dictators to democracy was pretty bloody. No reason to expect other countries to make the same transition flawlessly.

Actually, there is no reason to expect them to make that transition at all.

If there is no such expectation, then I would prefer to support the faction that (nominally) supports us.

Certainly, it would be better if we could ignore them, but we are not currently in a position to do that.

Written by Ed Myers about 3 years ago.

I don’t have an expectation that they will change overnight like the neo-cons expected it during GWB. I do expect it will occur eventually. Maybe a generation or two from now. Meanwhile we should avoid meddling or supporting those who pretend to support us for the money.

Democratic institutions are not dependent on white men or the Christian religion to succeed. The Creator endowed all people with the ability and desire to govern themselves.

Why do you have any such expectation, Special Ed? Upon what do you base the assertion that, “The Creator endowed all people with the ability and desire to govern themselves”?

Written by Gaius Baltar about 3 years ago.

The Creator endowed all people with the ability and desire to govern themselves.

What if a given people believe that their creator did NOT give them such an ability, and thus a lack of that desire? Some cultures and interpretations of religions believe that the only sovereign is their particular god and that a ruler’s only duty is fealty to what they believe are their god’s laws and not to them as people. Much of the fighting we are witnessing is over interpretation of those laws. Under such a milieu it is extremely difficult for a culture of self gov’t to thrive.

I think that we, Westerners, tend to project our own values, hopes and desires on others too much.